Arman Tsarukyan revealed he will raffle off a pickup truck to his followers after Justin Gaethje publicly refused to accept it as a gift. Gaethje stated on the Joe Rogan podcast that he would not take the truck, saying the two never shook hands on a deal. Tsarukyan responded that he had already coordinated with Gaethje's manager on the vehicle's color before Gaethje's rejection, and said he will now give it away to a fan who needs it more.
Arman Tsarukyan announced on June 21 that he will raffle off a pickup truck to one of his followers after Justin Gaethje publicly declined to accept the vehicle as a gift, turning what was meant to be a personal gesture into a giveaway for a fan in need.
Tsarukyan, 29, holds a 23-3 record and is ranked first in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian fighter out of American Top Team stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation largely on his grappling pressure, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. He said he had already coordinated the truck's color with Gaethje's manager before the rejection came through, and he made clear the fan who receives it will be someone who genuinely needs it.
Gaethje, the reigning lightweight champion, addressed the situation on the Joe Rogan podcast, stating flatly that he would not accept the truck because the two had never shaken hands on any such deal. The 37-year-old American carries a 28-5 record and fights out of Genesis Training Center. Known for his high-output striking, Gaethje lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous stand-up fighters in the division.
Why it matters
- The public back-and-forth adds a charged personal dimension to what is already a high-stakes matchup between the champion and his top-ranked contender.
- Gaethje's on-record refusal and Tsarukyan's claim that the manager had already signed off on the truck's color leave both sides with contrasting versions of how the arrangement unfolded.
- Tsarukyan framing the raffle as a charitable act to a deserving fan shifts the narrative momentum in his favor heading into any potential future negotiations.
